Pallet tiering frame interlock

ABSTRACT

A releasable interlock for a pallet tiering frame comprising two non-identical sections each with a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by V-shaped top members and having pallet engaging feet at their lower ends. The interlock structure involves a pin having diametrical abutments and projecting from the apex of one top member which engages an apertured locking bracket on the apex of the other top member and aligned apertures in the latter. Rotation of one frame section substantially 90* relative to the other about the axis of the pin secures the frame sections together on the pallet.

United States Patent 1191 Blozis 1 1 Jan. 9, 1973 541 PALLET TIERING FRAME 3,364,883 1/1968 Evans ..l08/53 INTERLOCK 3,643,988 2/1972 Bubble ..287/53.5 [75] Inventor: Peter P. Blozis, Michigan City, lnd, Primary Examiner Bobby R y [73] Assignee: The Paltier Corporation, Michigan Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch City, Ind. Att0rneyC. Frederick Leydig et a1.

[22] F1led: Dec. 8, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appi' 205930 A releasable interlock for a pallet tiering frame comprising two non-identical sections each with a pair of [52] U.S. Cl. ..108/53, 211/177, 287/535 upright posts connected at their upper ends by V- [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 19/38 shaped top members and having pallet engaging feet Field of Search at their lower ends. The interlock structure involves a 237/54 pin having diametrical abutments and projecting from the apex of one top member which engages an aperl References Cited tured locking bracket on the apex of the other top member and aligned apertures in the latter. Rotation UNITED STATES PATENTS of one frame section substantially 90 relative to the 1,520,520 12/1924 Thomason ..108/153 other about the axis of the pin secures the frame sec- 2,942,826 6/1960 De Pew et a1. ..108/53 tions together on the pallet. 2,953,340 9/1960 Skubic ..l08/53 3,249,072 5/1966 Skubic ..108/53 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures l V A/ 1/ PATENTED JAN 9 I973 SHEET 1 0F 2 PALLET TIERING FRAME INTERLOCK DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pallet tiering frame structures and, more particularly to a releasable interlock for quickly and easily securing a pair of frame sections together on a supporting pallet.

One object of the invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure comprising a pair of non-identical frame sections adapted to be releasably secured together with great rigidity by interlocking pin and bracket members as an incident to mounting the frame on a supporting pallet.

Another object is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure of the character set forth above with interlocking pin and bracket members and pallet engaging feet which preclude accidental disengagement due to impact or to tilting of the pallet in course of handling.

A further object is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure of the foregoing type which may be quickly assembled and disassembled by one man without necessity for special tools or fixtures.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative pallet tiering frame structure embodying the present invention and mounted on a pallet.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the releasable interlock portion of the illustrative frame structure of FIG. 1, taken in the plane of the line 22.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the interlock as shown in FIG. 2, taken in the plane ofthe line 3-3.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sequential side elevational views illustrating'the steps in mounting the illustrative frame structure on the pallet.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the illustrative frame structure in place on the pallet.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrative embodiment has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the invention is there exemplifiled in a pallet tiering frame structure 10 mounted in place on pallet 11. The frame structure comprises two non-identical sections 12, 14 each comprising a pair of upright posts having pallet engaging feet at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends by a generally V-shaped top member which overlies the pallet when the frame is secured in place. Thus the section 12 comprises a pair of posts 15, pallet engaging feet 16 and a top member 18. The section I4 comprises a pair of posts 15, pallet engaging feet 16 and a mating top member 19. The top members 18, 19 are in this instance fabricated from hollow tubular stock and welded to the tops ofthe posts 15.

Although the frame structure 10 has been illustrated herein with its posts and feet engaging the corners of the pallet, it may also be applied to installations where the posts and feet engage central or intermediate areas away from the pallet corners. I

Provision is made for releasably interlocking the frame sections 12, 14 together as an incident to mounting the tiering frame structure on the pallet. In furtherance of this objective, a locking pin 20 is rigidly secured to the tubular member 19 so as to project longitudinally from the apex thereof in the general plane of the member 19 (FIGS. 1-3). The'pin 20 is situated diametrically of the member 19 in a pair of aligned holes in its wall and is secured thereto as by means of weld 21 about the slightly projecting rearward end of the pin. A cooperating apertured locking bracket 22 is also rigidly secured to the tubular member 18 so as to extend longitudinally from the apex thereof. The bracket 22 is disposed with its trough facing the apex of the member 18, its side walls 24 generally parallel to the plane thereof, and its back wall 25 facing the apex of the memberv19. Welds 26 secure the bracket 22 to the member 18.

In order to achieve the desired engagement between the frame sections 12, 14, the forward end of the locking pin 20 projects from the member 19 to an extent which exceeds the distance from the outer face of the bracket wall 25 to that portion of the outer periphery of the member 18 remote from the bracket 22 (FIG. 2). The outwardly projecting portion of the pin 20 is formed with diametrically opposed abutments 28 which are spaced from the outer periphery of the member 19 by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the bracket wall 25. A central aperture 29 in the bracket wall 25, and alined diametric al apertures 30, 31 in the wall of the member 18, are adapted to receive the pin 20. The outer end of the latter may be tapered as at 32 to facilitate entry. The aperture 29 in the bracket wall 25 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed clearance slots 34 to permit passage of the locking abutments 28 therethrough. The slots 34 are oriented at approximately about the axis of the pin 20 from the abutments 28 when the frame sections I2, 14, are assembled on the pallet. In the present instance, the clearance slots 34 are oriented in horizontal plane while the abutments 28 are oriented in a generally vertical plane. These orientations may, of course, be shifted as long as a difference of substantially 90.is maintained between them. The length of the abutments28 axially of the pin 20 is such that, when the frame sections are assembled, the abutments 28 will engage both the outer peripheral surface of the member 18 adjacentthe aperture 30, and the inner surface of the bracket wall 25' adjacent the aperture 29. Such engagement, even allowing for the clearances needed to facilitate easy assembly, results in excellent structural rigidityin the assembled frame.

The pallet engaging feet 16 of the frame members (FIGS. 1', 4-7) are adapted to engage the corners of the pallet positively so as to preclude accidental disengagement as from impact with a lift truck or tilting of the pallet during handling. Accordingly, it will be noted that each of the feet 16 is formed with a pair of opposed depending flanges 35, 36 for engaging the'lateral edges of its associated outer deckboard 38 of the pallet 11. The outermost flange 35 of each foot is also fashioned with an in-turned extension 39 which partially underlies the deckboard 38 so as to resist a direct upward thrust tending to disengage the foot from the deckboard. To resist disengaging thrusts in the other direction, each of the feet 16 is formed with a depending flange 40 adapted to abut against the end of the deckboard 38 and the opposed longitudinal face of each outerboard stringer 41.

in FIGS. 4 through 7, the manner ofassembling the frame on the pallet 11 is shown sequentially. Starting with the unit disassembled as shown in FIG. 4, one of the frame sections, for example the section 12, is first positioned on the pallet with its feet 16 engaging the end portions of the outer deckboard 38 and its top member 18 overlying the pallet, as shown in FIG. 5. The other frame section 14 is lifted and turned so that the plane of its top member 19 is substantially vertical, as shown in FIG. 5. The section 14 is then moved toward the section 12 and the locking pin 20 inserted through the aligned apertures 29, 30 and 31 of the bracket 22 and top member 18. Under this condition, the abutments 28 and clearance slots 34 lie in the same plane and the abutments 28 pass freely into the interior ofthe locking bracket 22. The section 14, including the top member 19 and locking pin 20 are moved axially of the pin 20 until the apex of the member 19 makes contact with the outer face of the bracket 22. When this occurs, the section [4 is rotated through approximately 90 to its normal upright position, and its feet are pulled slightly outward of the pallet and brought into engagement with the outer deckboard 38 of the pallet, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. At the same time, the abutments 28 are brought into engagement with the opposed inner surface of the bracket wall and the opposed outer peripheral surface of the member 18. The parts are so proportioned that when the frame sections are assembled on the pallet, a biasing force is set up tending to hold the depending flange 35 of eaehfoot securely against the outside edge of the deckboard 38, The posts of the assembled frame are tilted slightly inward with respect-to the pallet and the top members 18, l9'are angled slightly downward toward the center of the pallet. in this condition, which is shown in somewhat exaggerated form in FIG. 6 merely for purposes of illustration, the structure possesses sufficient rigidity and stability to afford safe support for heavy superimposed loads.

The pallet tiering frame structure described above may be quickly and easily assembly and disassembled with a minimum of manpower. One man, working without tools or special fixtures, may readily assembly or disassemble a large number of such frames. The frame sections when disassembled, may be easily nested for storage. The interlock elements are simple, rugged, and capable of being subjectedto hard usage without likelihood ofdamage.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a palletand having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V- shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination,

a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member;

b. an apertured locking bracket rigidly secured to the other one of said V-shaped top-members and ,ex-

tending longitudinally from the apex thereof;

e. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin spaced from said one top member by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the bracket wall;

. means defining aligned apertures in said bracket and in said other top member, said apertures being ofa size adapted to receive said locking pin;

e. means defining a pair 'of diametrically opposed slots in the aperture of said bracket at substantially to the axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on a pallet;

f. whereby said frame sections may be interlocked by mounting one said section on the pallet with its V- shaped top member overlying the same, turning stantially 90 about said pin, and engaging the feet.

of said other section with said pallet.

2. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 1,.the combination wherein said diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin extend between and engage the opposed inner face of said locking bracket and the opposed outer peripheral surface of said other top member.

3. ln a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two nonidentical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V- shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination,

a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member; s

b. an apertured locking bracket rigidly secured to the other one of said V-shaped top members and-extending longitudinally from the apex thereof;

c. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin spaced from saidone top member by an amount slightly greater than the thicknessof the bracket wall; I

and in said other top member, said apertures being ofa size adapted to receive said locking pin;

e. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots-in the aperture of said bracket at substantially 90 to the axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on a pallet;

f. a plurality of pallet engaging feet fixed to the lower ends of said upright posts;

g. each saidfoot having a pair of opposed flange s adapted for engagement with the lateral edges of an outer deckboard;

h. and each said foot having a third depending flange means defining aligned apertures in said bracket- 5. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 3, the combination wherein the lower ends of said pairs of posts and their pallet engaging feet are biased toward each other.

6. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 3, the 5 combination wherein the outermost one of each pair of depending flanges is formed with an in-turned extension underlying the outer deckboard. 

1. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V-shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination, a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member; b. an apertured locking bracket rigidly secured to the other one of said V-shaped top members and extending longitudinally from the apex thereof; c. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin spaced from said one top member by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the bracket wall; d. means defining aligned apertures in said bracket and in said other top member, said apertures being of a size adapted to receive said locking pin; e. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the aperture of said bracket at substantially 90* to the axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on a pallet; f. whereby said frame sectiOns may be interlocked by mounting one said section on the pallet with its V-shaped top member overlying the same, turning the other said section with its Vshaped top member substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first, inserting said locking pin through said apertures, turning said other frame section substantially 90* about said pin, and engaging the feet of said other section with said pallet.
 2. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 1, the combination wherein said diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin extend between and engage the opposed inner face of said locking bracket and the opposed outer peripheral surface of said other top member.
 3. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V-shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination, a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member; b. an apertured locking bracket rigidly secured to the other one of said V-shaped top members and extending longitudinally from the apex thereof; c. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin spaced from said one top member by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the bracket wall; d. means defining aligned apertures in said bracket and in said other top member, said apertures being of a size adapted to receive said locking pin; e. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the aperture of said bracket at substantially 90* to the axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on a pallet; f. a plurality of pallet engaging feet fixed to the lower ends of said upright posts; g. each said foot having a pair of opposed flanges adapted for engagement with the lateral edges of an outer deckboard; h. and each said foot having a third depending flange adapted to engage the end of the outer deckboard.
 4. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 3, the combination wherein the diametrical axis of said abutments on said locking pin is oriented generally vertically and the diametrical axis of said slots in said one top member is oriented generally horizontally when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet.
 5. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 3, the combination wherein the lower ends of said pairs of posts and their pallet engaging feet are biased toward each other.
 6. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 3, the combination wherein the outermost one of each pair of depending flanges is formed with an in-turned extension underlying the outer deckboard. 